FEEL THE HEAT – NICK COLIONNE
Just one glance at the cover of Nick Colionne's latest album and it's easy to tell the musical forecast on this one is a scorcher. The skyline of his native Chicago basking in a heat wave is the perfect backdrop for the so-called 'Windy City cat's' seventh studio album. One of the most in-demand guitarists in the smooth groove genre, Colionne shows he has nothing to prove on 'Feel The Heat', the long-awaited follow up to his outstanding 2008 offering 'No Limits'. Yet Colionne's guitar picks up where it last left off; steady, smooth, and stylish. 'Some Funky' is an excellent kickoff to 'Feel The Heat', and a splendid mix of Colionne's signature sound and electric piano. The album's first single release 'The Windy Dance' is laced with Colionne's much loved hooks layered over an easy stepping tempo. But what fans will truly applaud is Colionne's rich baritone voice gracing several amazingly produced songs. 'Let's Spend Some Time' is the first introduction to his vocal style; deep, laidback, and velvety all the same. The same soulful style is heard on 'Midnight And You', where an octave drop at times may be reminiscent of the beloved Barry White, as unintentional as it may be. Hailing from the city known for playing the blues, Colionne provides just that on 'Can’t Let Go', both musically and vocally as his guitar stings as much as the lyrics he sings about love gone awry. All but two of the songs on 'Feel The Heat' are written and produced by Colionne, while a pair are credited to none other than James Lloyd, one half of the legendary Philadelphia tandem Pieces Of A Dream. Lloyd is his typical brilliant keyboarding self on his tunes 'The Connection' and It's Gonna Be Alright' and , the latter being a bright, up tempo feel-good groove and my personal fave on the album. Time after time, Colionne has found a way to engage his fans with talents that are indescribably hot. 'Feel The Heat' is no exception, and its intensity is indeed a scorcher.
Reviewed by Stu Berketo
